Grenfell Pony Club held its annual Christmas rally on November 25, 2018 at the Grenfell Showground.

The day began with some fun games, these included musical flags, decorating the Christmas tree and the crowd favourite ‘walk trot run bob the apple’ which we incorporated bouncy ball races. This game found the most laughs and cheering and even the ponies joined in! 

Following this the children dismounted and dressed themselves and their ponies in some fancy dress! All the kids looked great from Thing 1 and Thing 2, x 2 Hippies, Olaf and Elsa and Trent’s Pajama party.

Members then held the presentation of awards followed by a scrumptious Christmas lunch. All the children put in a fantastic effort in 2018 and showed great improvement.

Awards - 

Attendance Award - Lily Vardy and Trent Beath - Pearce

Club Ambassador - Lily Vardy

Best & Fairest – Emily Beath - Pearce

Greville Griffith Cup – Lily Vardy

Quiet Achiever – Frank McMahon 

Most Persistent – Trent Beath-Pearce 

Most Improved – Emily Beath-Pearce

Rider of the Year - Lily Vardy

Instructors Encouragement Award – Emily Beath-Pearce

Doug Lander Memorial Trophy- Champion Rider Grenfell Show - Lily Vardy

Kemar Cup – Best Presented Grenfell Show – Emily Beath-Pearce

Participation Medallions

Emma Mellon

Walter McMahon

Clarence McMahon

Congratulations to the winners of the Pony Club Street Stall raffle, prizes included stunning artworks by Lyndhurst artist Tracey Mackie.

1st  – (Lorna the cow) Nicole Cations,

2^nd – (Gossip Girls Sheep) Alison Coffey  and 

3^rd –  (Coasters) Merle Hunter. 

We would also like to thank Chris Pearce (Chris's Bakery) for keeping us in bread rolls for our lunches, also Ngaire Soley from The Grenfell Record for all your support and encouragement.

A special thank you to Ashleigh Leibick and Steph Fowler for teaching our kids and being so patient. Also huge thanks to our committee and parents for making 2018 such a fun and prosperous year. You make my job as president easy.

Tracey Mackay – Pony Club President

PONY CLUB MEMBER’S BRUSH WITH FAME

Eleven-year-old Trent Pearce of Goologong, member of the Grenfell Pony Club and son of Chris and Myree Pearce of Chris’s Bakery,  jumped at an opportunity to mix with racing royalty when he ventured to Rosehill races in Sydney last week.

By day’s end he had brushed shoulders with racing’s elite, leaving the course with an even greater desire to one day realise his dream of race riding for a living.

His first pony and a chat with champion Cowra rider Mathew Cahill at a Cowra race meeting when he was just nine fuelled Trent’s ambition to be a jockey.

Now 11, Trent tips the scales at just 29 kilograms.

“Mathew was his favourite jockey but it’s Hughie now,” Trent’s dad Chris said after his son spent time with the world’s best jockey Hugh Bowman and others, including Darren Beadman, Glyn Schofield and Adam Hyeronimus in the Rosehill jockeys room.

“Mathew’s been surpassed as his favourite jockey, just for the moment.

“Ever since his chat with Mathew he’s just wanted to be a jockey, he loves watching the races.”

During his Rosehill visit Trent came to the attention of the Sky Racing broadcast team of Glenn Munsie and Lizzie Jelfs and after telling Munsie of his desire to be a jockey the Sky host arranged for him to go into the jockeys room as well as meeting with the trainer of the world’s best racehorse Winx, Chris Waller.

And what advice did Waller and Hugh Bowman have for the Gooloogong boy.

“Chris said to keep your dreams alive,” Trent said while Hughie told him to work on his balance and ride his pony with his arms out ‘Hayne Plane’ style without holding the reigns.

Trent also met with former champion ride Darren Beadman who told him to make sure he rode for as long as he can with his leg irons long.

“It’s less distance to fall,” Darren told him.

As for now Trent’s returned home with plans to watch his “old” favourite jockey Matt Cahill ride trackwork as often as he can and continue to improve his riding skills at pony club.

NEW WRIST BAND POLICY

To assist with supervision of children at the aquatic centre, Council has introduced a wrist banding policy procedure for all children under 5 years of age that enter the facility promoting Under 5 Keep’em alive!!

The lack of direct supervision by parents and carers which is a contributing factor in 70% of drownings in public pools, and staff not identifying the lack of parental supervision is seen as an issue. Both Grenfell and Quandialla currently promote Keep watch in public pools which targets parents/carers to help them understand their responsibilities and dangers of leaving their children unattended.

This practise of wrist banding is now being introduced into a number of facilities to help identify those at higher risk and to make it easier for staff to enforce supervision requirements. Cowra Aquatic Centre will be also introducing the same policy. The system works in the following way –  

1. The facility will have the signage to support and promote the wrist band requiring all children 5 years and under to wear a red wrist band at all times within the centre.

2. The parents and guardians are to be within arm’s reach and actively in the water with these children.

3. This requirement becomes a condition of entry into the facility and it supports staff and encourages constant supervision.

4. If a member of the public refused to abide by the requirements of the facility, they will be asked to leave.

5. Bands will be provided at no cost to the user. These children of high risk are identifiable at all times to staff and the general public.

The facility currently operates under the guidelines of Keep Watch @ Public Pools Policy.

* Children under 10 years are not allowed entry unless under active supervision of a person 18 years. (some pools are 16yrs)

* Children 0-5 years and non-swimmers a parent or guardian is required to be in the water and within arm’s reach at all times.

* Children 6-10 and weak swimmers require constant active supervision.

* Children 11-14 it is recommended that a parent check regularly on them.

Lifeguards are responsible for all patrons and is an important measure to support staff supervision within that high risk age group. This is another tool to promote, encourage and enforce active supervision to prevent a drowning within this centre.

Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke has announced half a million dollars in funding is available to sports clubs in the Cootamundra electorate as part of the NSW Government's Local Sport Defibrillator Grant Program.

Ms Cooke said the funding was announced as part of Round 3 of the NSW Government's four-year, $4 million program.

"Sport is a vital part of the Cootamundra electorate community," Ms Cooke said.

"The Local Sport Defibrillators Grant Program helps sports organisations to purchase Automated External Defibrillators (AED) which can be used to respond to cardiac emergencies.

"It's critical that our local sport and recreation facilities are equipped with this life-saving equipment and I urge local sports organisations to apply for funding in the current round." 

Minister for Sport, Stuart Ayres said the program was about ensuring clubs were equipped to respond to life-threating emergencies.

"Early access to a defibrillator can significantly increase a person's chances of survival in the event of a cardiac arrest," Mr Ayres said.

Eligible sports clubs and organisations can receive between $1250 and $1900 in funds towards the cost of a defibrillator. Applications close May 6, 2019. Sport clubs are encouraged to apply as soon as possible for the best chance of securing a grant.

Details about applications and eligibility can be found at: www.sport.nsw.gov.au/clubs/grants/defibrillator